逍遥散 Xiao Yao San

The ingredients of Xiao Yao San

Eight herbs make up the base formula, each with a defined role — chief, deputy, assistant, envoy. Two additions create the Jia Wei variant. Select any herb for its monograph.

Illustration of Bupleurum root (Chái Hú) Chief Chái Hú 柴胡 Bupleurum root Illustration of Chinese angelica root (Dāng Guī) Deputy Dāng Guī 当归 Chinese angelica root Illustration of White peony root (Bái Sháo) Deputy Bái Sháo 白芍 White peony root Illustration of White atractylodes rhizome (Bái Zhú) Assistant Bái Zhú 白术 White atractylodes rhizome Illustration of Poria sclerotium (Fú Líng) Assistant Fú Líng 茯苓 Poria sclerotium Illustration of Honey-fried licorice root (Zhì Gān Cǎo) Envoy Zhì Gān Cǎo 炙甘草 Honey-fried licorice root Illustration of Chinese mint (Bò He) Adjunct Bò He 薄荷 Chinese mint Illustration of Roasted ginger (Wēi Jiāng) Adjunct Wēi Jiāng 煨姜 Roasted ginger

The Jia Wei additions

Illustration of Moutan (tree peony) bark (Mǔ Dān Pí) Jia Wei addition Mǔ Dān Pí 牡丹皮 Moutan (tree peony) bark Illustration of Gardenia fruit (Zhī Zǐ) Jia Wei addition Zhī Zǐ 栀子 Gardenia fruit

How the formula is put together

A classical formula is architecture, not a pile of ingredients. The chief herb addresses the main pattern; deputies reinforce it; assistants support digestion and temper the stronger herbs; envoys carry the formula where it needs to go and harmonize the whole. In Xiao Yao San, chái hú courses the constrained liver qi, dāng guī and bái sháo nourish the blood the liver stores, bái zhú and fú líng shore up the spleen, and honey-fried licorice, mint, and roasted ginger bind the prescription together.